Reserve device for gas cylinders



Feb. 2, 1960 P. ALOlSl 2,923,321

RESERVE DEVICE FOR GAS CYLINDERS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 v I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Paw/a 9/0/54 -cmu xmzw Feb. 2, 1960 P. ALOISI 2,923,321

RESERVE DEVICE FOR GAS CYLINDERS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 s sheets-sneak 2 Feb. 2, 1960 P. ALOISI RESERVE DEVICE FOR GAS CYLINDERS Filed Jan. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. l'dwfi A An?! wywwm United States Patent 6 2,923,321 RESERVE DEVICE FOR GAS Paolo Aloisi, Positano, Italy Application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 558,163 Claims priority, application Italy January 22, 1955 Claims. (Cl. 137-635) The present invention relates to a multiple valve interlock arrangement, and more particularly to an arrangement of this type which is advantageously applied to portable tanks or bottles containing gas under pressure. Such gas tanks, containing butene, propene and similar gases, are frequently used in the home, and are provided with a small auxiliary tank, containing the same gas so that when the gas of the main tank is exhausted, gas contained in the smaller auxiliary tank can be used until the entire tank is replaced. The main tank and the auxiliary tank are each equipped with a valve means, and it is desirable that under no circumstances communication between the two tanks can be established by improper operation of the two valve means. In this manner, mixing of gas contained in one of the tanks with an air gas mixture contained in the other tank is prevented.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a multiple valve interlock arrangement which permits operation of only a single valve at any time.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a multiple valve interlock arrangement which locks all unused valves during the operation of a single valve.

A further object of the present invention is a multiple valve interlock arrangement which prevents access to unused valve means while a single valve means is in operative condition.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a multiple valve interlock arrangement which comprises a valve housing formed with a plurality of cavities; a plurality of valve means, each of which is movable between open and closed positions, each valve means being located in the cavity when in closed posi- ;tion, and projecting out of the cavity when in open position; and locking means movable between a plurality of positions and engaging each position all but one of the valve means to hold the same in the cavity so that only a single valve means can move to the position projecting out of the cavity. In this manner, only a single valve can be opened at any time, whereas all other valve means are locked.

The multiple valve interlock arrangement according to the present invention can be applied to tanks in which the auxiliary small tank is enveloped by the main tank, and to arrangements in which the auxiliary tank is located outside of the main tank.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a valve arrangement according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a modified arrangement according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a multiple valve interlock device according to the present invention;

Patented Feb. 2, 1960 Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken' on line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an arrangement according to a modified embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, in which the small auxiliary tank is located within the main tank, the valve device according to the present invention has a main body 3 which is threaded into a threaded neck G of the main tank B and provided with a tubular extension H to which the are provided in the body 3 and communicate respectively with the interior of tank B and tank B. Conduits 15 and 15' terminate in valve seats 14, 14' which cooperate with valve members 13, 13' which are urged by springs 16, 16 away from valve seats 14, 14. Each of valve members 13, 13 is provided with a sealing means 49 and is located in a chamber 52, 52 closed by a resilient membrane 51, 51' consisting of a tombac and steel alloy providing a gas tight seal between chambers 52, 52 and the interior of bushings 30, 30' which are threaded into body 3. Mushroom-shaped members 12 and 12' abut against membranes 51, 51' under the action of springs 11, 11'. Other mushroom-shaped members 10 and 10' are arranged at the other end of the springs 11, 11. Springs 11, 11' tend to separate members 12 and 10, so that these members are spaced when the valve is open. When the valve is closed, the members engage each other as shown for members 10' and 12 on the left of Fig. 3.

Cylindrical control members 9, 9' are threaded into corresponding threaded bores in bushings 30 and 30' and can be advanced or retracted by turning movement. Each control member has a prismatic recess 18, 18' into which a prismatic end portion 21 of a tool 8 can be inserted. The recesses 18, 18' are equidistant from the main axis XX of a locking means 1 which is turnably mounted on a circular flange 4 of body 3. A resilient ring 20 is located in annular grooves 17 and 17 to hold the locking means 1 turnable on portion 4 of body 3. Locking means 1 has a tubular supporting portion 31 through which the shaft 8 of the tool passes. A flange between the prismatic portion 21 and the shaft 8 is engaged by a spring 7 so that prismatic portion 21 is urged into the matching recess 18. By operation of handle 2, the prismatic portion 21 can be retracted until it releases the respective recess 18.

Since there are only two valves provided, in the illustrated embodiment, the locking means 1 turns only through It will be appreciated that the tool 8 will be able to cooperate with the recess 18' and the associated valve means when the locking means 1 is turned.

A grip portion 50 facilitates turning of the locking means 1.

The pitch of the threads of control members 9, 9, the characteristics of springs 11, 11' and of springs 16, 16' are chosen in such a way that valve member 13, or 13', closes the respective seat 14, or 14' while the two rigid pieces 10 and 12 are still spaced and While a part of the respective control member 9 projects above the control surface on top of body 3, 4, and is located in the recess 31'. This position is shown on the right side of Fig. 3, in which valve 14 is open. It is not possible to turn locking means 1 with actuator 2, 8, 21 through 180 into a position cooperating with the recess 18', since the projecting control member 9 prevents turning of the turnable locking means 1 by engaging recess 31'.

However, when by turning of tool 2, 8, 21, control member 9 is turned, it moves inwardly into the cavity in bushing 30 until its upper end is flush with the control surface on top of body 3, 4, as shown on the left of Fig.3

9' presses member 10 against member 12' whichholds through membrane 51' valve member 13 in closed position tightly engaging valvelseat. 14. It will be noted that valve member 13 is thuspos'itively locked in valve closing position so that spring 16 and .11 are no longer effective. 1

Assuming that control member 9 on the right side of Fig. 3 would be turned by tool 2, 8, 21 into the position shown for control member 9', then control member 9 would be no longer located in recess 31', but would have a top face flush with the control surface of body 3, 4 so that it becomes possible to withdraw the tool by compression of spring 7 so that the prismatic portion 21 is located outside of recess 18, and is freeto slide along a semi-circular path along the top surface of body 3, 4 until portion 21 snaps into recess 18'. When tool 2, 8, 21 is now turned, it is possible to screw control member 9' out of the bushing and into the recess 31 which now registers with control member 9'. In this manner, pieces 10' and 11' separate, and the springs 11 and 16' are effective to move out member 13 to an open position.

It will be understood that the plate of locking means 1 which engages the top face of body 3, 4 constitutes a carrier for the tool 2, 8, 21.

As shown in Fig. 4 conduits 23, 24 connect chambers 52, 52' with the outlet 22 through which the gas is do livered. A cap 35 is threaded to memberG and protects the valve arrangement.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2, and 6, the auxiliary tank 13" is located outside of the main tank. The multiple valve interlock is the same as described with reference to Fig. 3, and is operated in the same manner. The only difference is that conduit 15' is closed, at its outlet end, and is connected with another outlet conduit 41 opening in a chamber in a tubular member 42 having an outer thread. A coupling member 45 is in threaded connection with member 42. The auxiliary tank B" has an outlet check valve 43 which tends to close under the action of a spring 44 and under the gas pressure in tank B". The threaded member 42 has an inner thread holding a pin 46 at its center. When nut 45 is tightened, pin 46 engages the stem of check valve 43 and pushes the same back against action of spring 44 so that the check valve is opened and gas can flow from the auxiliary tank into conduit 41. An elastic gasket 47 is provided to seal the threaded connection.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a multiple valve interlock arrangement applied to a main gas tank and to an auxiliary gas tank, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of valve arrangements differing from the types described above.

I claim:

1. A multiple valve interlock arrangement comprising, in combination, a plurality of valve means each of which is movable between open and closed positions; and locking means operatively associated with said plurality of valve means for permitting at any one instant but one of said plurality of valve means to assume its open position, said locking means including a single actuator member and carrier means carrying said actuator member and being movable between a plurality of diiferent actuating positions wherein said actuator member is respectively in registration with a single valve means of said plurality of valve means and is able to cooperatewith the respective valve means with which it is in registration in such a manner as to permit movement thereof to its open position, said carrier means having a portion extending over and preventing movement into open position of those valve means with which said actuator member is not in registration, said carrier means being engaged by said single valve means in open position so that movement of said carrier means is prevented so long as the respective single valve means with which said actuator member is in registration is permitted to occupy its open position, whereby at any one instant never more than one of said plurality of valve means can be in its open position.

2. A multiple valve interlock arrangement comprising, in combination, aplurality of valve means each of which is movable between open and closed positions; a plurality of control means operatively associated with said plurality of valve means, respectively, for moving each respective valve means between its open and closed positions, each of said control means being interconnected with its respective valve means in such a manner that the former occupies a first control position when the latter is closed and a second control position when the respective valve means is open; and locking means operatively associated with said plurality of control means for permitting at any one instant but one of said plurality of control means to assume its second control position, said locking means including a single actuator member and carrier means carrying said actuator member and being movable between a pluralityof difierent actuating positions wherein said actuator member is respectively in registration with a single control means of said plurality of control means and is able to cooperate with the respective control means with which it is in registration in such a manner as to move the same from said first to said second control position, said carrier means having a portion extending over and blocking movement of all control means but said single control means so that only that control means with which said actuator member is in registration can occupy its second control position, said carrier means being engaged and locked by said single control means only in said second control position of the same so that movement of said carrier means is prevented so long as the respective control means with which said actuator member is in registration is in its second control position, whereby at any one instant never more than one of said plurality of valve means can be in its open position.

3. A multiple valve interlock arrangement comprising, in combination, a valve housing formed with a plurality of cavities; a plurality of valve means each of which is movable between open and closed positions arranged in said cavities, respectively, each of said valve means including a control member which when the respective valve is closed is within the respective cavity and when the respective valve is open projects out of the respective cavity; and locking means movable between a plurality of positions and engaging in each position all but one of said control members and permitting in each position only a single selected control member to project out of its respective cavity, whereby at any one instant never more than one of said plurality of valve means can occupy its open position.

4. A multiple valve interlock arrangement comprising, in combination, a valve housing formed with a control surface and plurality of cavities opening at said control surface; a plurality of valve means each of which is movable between open and closed partitions arranged in said cavities, respectively, each of said valve means including a control member which when the respective valve is closed is within the respective cavity and when the respective valve is open projects out of the respective cavity and beyond said control surface; and locking means slidable on said control surface between a plurality of positions and engaging in each position all but one of said control members and permitting in each position only a single selected control member to project out of its respective cavity and beyond said control surface, whereby at any onerinstant never more than one of said plurality of valve means can occupy its open position.

5. A multiple valve interlock arrangement comprising,

in combination, a valve housing formed with a control surface and plurality of cavities opening at said control surface; a plurality of valve means each of which is movable between open and closed positions arranged in said cavities, respectively, each of said valve means including a control member which when the respective valve is closed is within the respective cavity and when the respective valve is open projects out of the respective cavity and beyond said control surface; and locking means for preventing at any one instant more than one of said control members from projecting out of its respective cavity and beyond the control surface, said locking means including a plate member in face-to-face contact with said control surface and formed with a recess into which any one of said control members may project when said recess is in registration with the respective cavity, said plate member being mounted on said valve housing for movement relative thereto between different positions wherein said recess is in registration with different cavities, respectively.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein each of said control members is threadedly arranged in its respective cavity so that the respective valve means may be placed into its open position by rotating the respective control member until the same projects out of the respective cavity and beyond said control surface, and wherein said locking means further include a turning tool projecting into said recess for turning the control member with which said recess, at any one instant, is in alignment.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said turning tool is carried by said plate member for both turn ing and axial movement relative thereto.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 including spring means interposed between said plate means and said turning tool for constantly urging the latter in an axial direction toward one of said control members.

9. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said control surface is substantially flat, wherein said plate member is mounted on said valve housing for rotation relative thereto about an axis normal to said control surface and spaced from said recess, and wherein each of said cavities is spaced from said axis a distance equal to that which said recess is spaced therefrom, so that said recess may be brought into registration with diflierent cavities by rotating said plate member.

10. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein each of said valve means has a movable rigid valve member positively connected to the respective associated control member when said control member is entirely within said cavity and wherein said control members are rigid so that when its respective control member is entirely within said cavity, the valve means is maintained positively in its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,197,144 Carnes Apr. 16, 1940 2,212,486 Zoder Aug. 20, 1940 2,302,029 Hulsmann Nov. 17, 1942 2,322,877 Parker June 29, 1943 2,409,765 Kehle Oct. 22, 1946 2,434,167 Knoblauch J an. 6, 1948 2,630,821 Arey Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 486,700 France Feb. 8, 1918 653,013 Germany Nov. 12, 1937 686,011 Germany Dec. 30, 1939 

